Choosing a Safe Tour Operator

April-May 2005

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC

Did you know that the sea kayak industry in BC is guided by performance and safety standards? Before signing up for your next kayak trip, here are a few questions you should ask:

Do you carry Liability Insurance?

All companies operating in BC on Crown Land, Provincial or National Parks are required to carry liability insurance as a condition of their permits. Some operators may not carry insurance where it is not mandatory. Are your vehicles properly insured?

If you are riding in their vehicles, ask if they have the proper permits and insurance to cover their passengers. A permitted vehicle has passed a vehicle safety inspection. Your driver should have a class 4 driver’s licence. Some companies drive down bumpy back roads to get to the kayak launch site, they carry trailer loads of kayaks, a full truck load of clients plus all their personal gear and all the camping equipment. Be responsible for yourself in making the decision to accept the ride or not. Are your guides certified?

Some guides lead tours for fun, but they do not have the education and experience required to assess risk and avoid mishaps. The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC trains and certifies guides. Our standards allow only Lead Guides to lead multi-day trips.

How many people in the group?

10 clients is the maximum group size for safety on the water. Some parks have campsite maximums lower than this, so depending on where you are going, the group size could be smaller. How many guides with the group?

2 guides for a group of 10 is required. This is a 1 to 5 guide-to-client ratio. More than 5 clients is difficult for any guide to manage even in perfect conditions. This factor does not change if the clients are in double kayaks. Pricing, and level of service offered?

Some companies offer all the equipment, all the food and excellent guides, while others offer only the guides. Make sure that you get a list of what equipment is being offered and ask about the condition of that equipment. Ask for a list of what you should bring with you. What kind of food is being served or are you bringing and preparing the food? Prices vary, depending on the level of service and the quality of the equipment.

Expected sea conditions in the area?

Operators must know the local conditions and hazards. They should be able to explain the potential wind speed and wave heights, expected currents and distance of crossings. Make sure you understand what you are getting into. Depending on your ability and experience, you need to decide if you will be comfortable with the expected conditions. Length of time operating in the area?

Knowledge of the area is not just about the Native Culture or flora and fauna, it’s also about the resources available. Good operators have established themselves well in local communities, they have a support system in place and know who to call in case of emergency. They also know all the secret little places you can camp (or not), where to get fresh water, where to wait out a storm; they understand the weather patterns and sea conditions in the area.

For more info, see www.skgabc.com. Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC

Access to Campsites

Certain beaches in BC have been leased by the government to kayak operators for their commercial use. But this does not give companies the right to deny recreational paddlers access to an entire beach. In the rare instance that a commercial group is unwilling to allow other paddlers to camp on ‘their’ beach, paddlers should explain that they have a right to camp there, and should ask to see the permit, taking note of the name of the company, the file number, the name of the officer who issued the permit and the guide’s name. After the trip, contact the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection for enforcement. Hopefully such action will never be necessary.